Imanaga, 2 relievers combine for no-hitter, lead Cubs over Pirates 12-0

CHICAGO (AP) — Shota Imanaga and two Cubs relievers mixed on a no-hitter, main Chicago over the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0 on Wednesday evening.

Imanaga (12-3), a 31-year-old left-hander in his first season with the Cubs after pitching in Japan for eight seasons, struck out seven and walked two over seven innings. He threw 66 of 95 pitches for strikes.

He wanted 25 pitches to get via the second inning. His season excessive is 103 pitches in opposition to St. Louis on June 15. Imanaga has not gotten an out within the eighth inning.

Imanaga agreed in January to a $53 million, four-year contract. Chicago paid a $9,825,000 posting charge to the Yokohama BayStars of Japan’s Central League.

Nate Pearson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Porter Hodge an ideal ninth within the Cubs’ 18th no-hitter, the primary since Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel mixed to carry Los Angeles hitless at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021.

Chicago gamers celebrated when shortstop Dansby Swanson threw to first baseman Michael Busch for the ultimate out on Oneil Cruz’s grounder, however have been extra muted than throughout celebrations after particular person no-hitters.

Chicago had not pitched a no-hitter at Wrigley Area since Milt Pappas in opposition to San Diego on Sept. 2, 1972 — Pappas was one pitch from an ideal recreation when Bruce Froemming referred to as ball 4 on a full-count pitch to Larry Stahl. Garry Jestadt then popped out.

This was the fourth no-hitter this season after complete-game efforts by Houston’s Ronel Blanco in opposition to Toronto on April 1, San Diego’s Dylan Stop at Washington on July 25 and San Francisco’s Blake Snell at Cincinnati on April 2.

Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson every had three of Chicago’s 17 hits, with Swanson and Crow-Armstrong each ending a triple shy of the cycle.

Domingo Germán (0-1), who pitched an ideal recreation final yr for the New York Yankees in opposition to Oakland, allowed seven runs — six earned — and 9 hits in three innings.

Seiya Suzuki hit an RBI single within the first, and Chicago opened a 4-0 lead within the second when Crow-Armstrong had a run-scoring double within the second and Happ hit a two-run single.

Swanson’s two-run homer and Crow-Armstrong’s solo shot boosted the result in 7-0 within the third. Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer within the sixth in opposition to Kyle Nicolas.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: OF Andrew McCutchen was a late scratch due to a knee challenge.

Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (tendinitis in pitching elbow) and RHP Jorge López (strained proper groin) have been placed on the 15-day IL, Steele retroactive to Sunday and López to Tuesday. Reliever Hayden Wesneski, out since July 19 with an injured proper forearm, will begin a rehab project at Triple-A Iowa.

UP NEXT

Pirates: LHP Bailey Falter (6-7, 4.41 ERA) was set to take the mound Thursday when the Pirates return residence to face the Nationals.

Cubs: RHP Javier Assad (7-4, 3.21) was scheduled to start out Friday within the sequence opener at residence in opposition to the New York Yankees, who begin RHP Luis Gil (12-6).

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